Scouring and abrasive treating machine



Oct. 27, 1964 R. G. MILLHISER 3,153,882

SCOURING AND ABRASIVE TREATING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR. #08597 6. may/.552

Oct. 27, 1964 R. G. MlLLHlSER 3,153,882

SCOURING AND ABRASIVE TREATING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1.961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM United States Patent s,1ss,ssz SCOURlNG AND ABnAsrvn rnna'inro MACHINE Robert G. Miilhiser, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Ajem Laboratories, Inc, Livonia, Mich. Filed May 24, 1961, Ser. No. 112,454 14 Claims. (Ci. 5115) This invention relates to rotary indexing machines for carrying parts to a succession of stations for a succession of treatments and positioning the parts as required for the respective treatments. More particularly the invention relates to a rotating or turret type carrier adapted to move step-by-step through the several stations and having thereon means for holding parts to be treated at the respective stations and for turning them to different orientations. In particular such a device may be provided with jets and/ or blasting tubes for impinging the surfaces of such parts with washing liquids, abrasive slurries, rinsing liquids and finally a gas blow-0d to remove residual liquids and to dry the parts before discharge from the machine.

Devices intended for like purpose and performing similar functions have been disclosed in prior applications of myself and my coworkers, especially in Serial Nos. 122,521 filed July 7, 1961, and 112,338, f led May 24, 1961, now Patent No. 3,094,207.

In the said prior applications, a machine was disclosed in which a turntable was partitioned into segmental chambers and in each chamber a part was mounted on a rotating support member so that the part was rotated while it was subjected to abrasive blasting, washing, rinsing, blow 011, etc., thus extending very substantially the area subjected to the treatment, and assuring more uniform treatment over such area. A separate motor and gear reducer and separate controls for starting and stopping the motors at the proper times were required for each chamber in order to assure the proper coordination of movements of the part with positioning relative to the various iets, etc. Because the space on the turntable was limited, it was necessary to put these motors, gear reducers and controls in cramped spaces which has made servicing dimcult and therefore relatively expensive.

According to the present invention all of the rotating holders for the several chambers are driven from a single motor which is located on the exterior of the machine where it is free from abrasive and corrosive conditions which may exist within, and where it is conveniently located for servicing if that should become necessary.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown as one example of the invention, an abrasive blasting machine for cleaning and deburring manufactured parts. The selection of this particular machine and various modifications suggested below are not intended to be exhaustive, but are given for purposes of illustration and with a view to instructing others in the principles of the invention and its embodiment so that others skilled in the art may modify and adapt the invention as may be best suited to the requirements of each particular use.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view partly in section, partly in phantom;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front view in elevation; and

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical axial section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1.

The machine shown in these figures is a rotary indexing, washing and abrasive deburring machine in which manufactured parts 1% conveyed to it by conventional conveyor means (not shown) are inserted from the conveyor means through a door or opening 11 into a sector-shaped chair her, as shown at the position A, of a rotary carriage 14,

3,153,882 Fatented Oct. 27, 1964 the carriage being divided into seven such sector-shaped chambers as shown at A-G by means of the partitions 12 having a Y-shaped configuration as seen in FIGURE 1. The diverging outer ends 15 of these partitions 14 cooperate at predetermined positions with fixed partitions 17 so as to prevent the treating fluids or abrasives from splashing into other chambers or out of the opening 11.

in each sector there is a rotatable parts holder 15 onto which the parts are placed and by which they are rotated to expose difierent surfaces thereof and at different angles to the treatment provided in the device-in this case the blasting with abrasive slurries, washing liquids, rinsing liquids and blow ofi air.

The sector marked A is in registry with the opening 11 for loading and unloading. When the carriage indexes of a circle, the part on its holder is moved to the position by sector B, and then successively to the positions where sectors C, D, E, F and G are illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

in the position of C and D, the part 10 is subjected to a blast of abrasive slurry from a blast tube such as 18 (FEGURE 3), and the part is rotated as it comes into each of these positions, as it leaves position, and while it is in position over the respective blast tube.

The blasting action and the apparatus used therefore are described and claimed in copending applications Serial No. 9,910, filed February 19, 1960, and Serial No. 112,338 new Patent No. 3,094,207 copending herewith.

As the carriage moves the parts holder, with its carried part, through successive sector positions, the part is subjected successively to jets of washing liquids containing suitable detergents or other cleaning materials and rinsing liquid, e.g., clear water, and blow off by compressed air. Depending upon the part being washed, it is often advantageous to use several of the treating stations for abrasive blasting with the part held at diiierent angles, or with different types of blasting materials, e.g., abrasive grains in one segment and steel shot in another segment.

When the carriage has rotated full circle, the part is removed from the carrier 16 to a suitable conveyor for taking it away, and another part is put into place for treatment in a following cycle.

The indexing of the carriage from station to station can be provided by mechanism described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 112,338, now Patent No. 3,094,207 copending herewith, or may be provided by any suitable mechanism, e.g. as described in the copending application of Millhiser, Panzica, Umbricht and Evans, Serial No. 122,521.

it is an advantage that in the machine as shown in the accompanying drawings the motor 2%} for driving all of the individual parts holders 16 is mounted on the frame 22 of the device and is exterior to the main housing 24.

Beside the motor on the exterior of the housing in the example shown is a worm-gear speed-reducer transmission mechanism 25 which is driven from the motor 20 by a J-belt drive 23. The output shaft from the transmission mechanism 26 carries a pulley 3b, in this instance or a sprocket type drive chain belt 32. This drive chain 32 engages also each of the driven pulleys 34 excepting that which, at the time, is in the loading sector station A.

As will be observed from FIGURE 1, the drive pulley 39 holds the chain away from whichever one of the driven pulleys 34 is positioned at the loading station A, thus the rotating parts holder 16 in position A is disengaged from the drive mechanism and consequently does not rotate while it is within this sector A. In order to hold the sprocket chain 32 under tension so that it will not drop and so that it will remain in firm engagement with the driven pulleys 34 in the respective sector stations B-G, inclusive, an effective spring tension means is provided, as will be described. In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the chain 32 is maintained under tension by a movable mounting of the whole drive mechanism 31, including the motor 20 and speed reducer 26. 'As shown in the drawings, the motor 20 and reducer 26 are supported on a movable base plate 33 which is pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot shaft 35. A spring 37 extends between this movable base plate 33 and a fixed frame member 39, and this spring urges the drive sprocket 30 outwardly against the inside of the chain 32 so as to provide a firm tension in the chain.

An alternative way in which to tension the chain 32 is to mount an idler pulley in a movable bracket secured to the main frame with spring means urging the idler pulley inwardly against the chain 32 closely adjacent to the drive pulley 30.

In certain applications the chain 32 can be maintained under tension by a plurality of idler pulleys movably mounted on the carriage 14 between the respective driven pulleys 34. These idler pulleys are urged outwardly against the inside of the chain 32. There must be at least two of such carriage-mounted chain-tensioning idler pulleys in view of the fact that the particular idler which is revolved into sector station A is not in engagement with the chain 32. However, for most applications to avoid complexity, it is found preferable to utilize a spring-biased movably mounted drive mechanism 31 as shown for tensioning the chain 32.

Although a sprocket chain 32 is illustrated as a preferred form of a continuous engageable drive belt means for driving all of the driven pulleys 34 which are in engagement therewith, other equivalent engageable drive belt means can be used for various applications, as will be understood from this specification. The sprocket chain provides a positive drive relationship between the drive pulley 36 and the driven pulleys 34. In certain applications a toothed belt, for example, such as a V-type toothed rubber timing belt can be used to provide such positive drive relationship. T provide the desired strength in most larger machines where the driven loads are larger, it is preferable to utilize a sprocket chain 32 shown as the drive belt means in the drawings.

In order to tension, the motor V-belt 28, the motor 20 is supported on a platform which is pivotally mounted at 41, and a screw jack 43 elevates the motor for tensioning the belt 28.

Each driven pulley 34 is keyed to the driving shaft of a driven transmission machanisrn 36, advantageously a controllable speed reducer gear as shown, the output shaft of which is horizontal and carries a pulley 38 (in this instance a sprocket) by which it drives, through the pulley 39, the radially extending shaft 40 of the rotating parts holder 16. An idler pulley 42 maintains the necessary tensions on the driving belt 41 (in this instance shown as a sprocket chain).

The rotating parts holder 16 and its shaft 40 are mounted in bearings 44 on the rotating carriage 14.

The floor 46 of the carriage does not extend under the parts holder in the various treating stations, so that the part held thereon is exposed directly to the blast tube 18 andto water and air jets encountered in other treating stations. In the loading station, however, and advantageously also in the vestibule stations B and G, adjacent to opposite sides of the loading station, a floor 48 which is a part ofthe housing 24 is provided to keep splash and spray from blowing out of the machine. Baffle seals are provided at 49, t), 51 etc. to confine the spray and blasting particles, etc. within the proper parts of the machine. As shown at 51, each bafiie seal comprises at least a pair of spaced barrier elements 43 and 45 on a first part of the machine forming an elongated socket or recess therebetween toward which extends a cooperating barrier blate 47 on another part of the machine which is movable relative to the first part. When the parts of the machine rotate, then the barriers 43, 45 and 47 are surfaces of revolution or are annular, as illustrated at 49, 5t 51 etc.

The carriage 14 has a central main column 52 mounted in a main bearing 53 on a fixed base 54. The carriage floor 46 and partitions 12 are secured to the central column 52 by means of a flange 56. At the top of this central column is another flange 58, which is secured to a stepping wheel 59 having seevn slots 67 or similar openings in its rim corresponding to the seven sector chambers A-G. A drive shaft 653 is rotatably mounted coaxial within the column 52 in a hearing at the top of the column and is driven by means of an electric motor 63 (FIGURE 1) through a gear reducer 69 and a sprocket chain 71 and a driven gear 61. A further bearing 73 is provided in a cross frame 62 for supporting the drive shaft 66 Secured to and below this cross frame 62 is a pair of spaced, parallel guide plates 64 for a movable locking bolt 65 which slides radially therebetween so as to engage, and then retract from, the respective slots 67 in a peripheral flange at? on the stepping Wheel 59. When engaged by the locking bolt 65, the wheel 59, and through it the carriage 14, are locked to the frame and therefore are held firmly against rotation.

Keyed to the shaft 60 is an eccentric cam 68 embraced by a cam follower 7t), and opposite sides of this cam follower are pivotally connected to the respective locking bolts 65 and 72. The bolt 72 is movably longitudinally in radial guides 74 on a swinging arm 76 pivotally mounted by a sleeve bearing 77 on the shaft 60. When the bolt 72 is pushed home into engagement into one of the slots 67 in the flange 66 of the stepping wheel 59, the further rotation of the eccentric cam 68 causes the cam follower '70 to have a transverse movement which, acting through its connection with the bolt 72 and the latters engagement with the flange 66, causes a rotation of the stepping wheel through an are equal to the dis: tance between the centers of successive sector stations.

Continued rotation of the eccentric cam then Withdraws the bolt 72 from the slot 67 and at the same time drives in the locking bolt 65 in a slot on the opposite side of the stepping wheel, thereby holding the stepping wheel stationary until the eccentric cam 68 is rotated far enough to have swung the mm 76 with its bolt 72 back to the starting position and then to have reacted the bolt 65 and to have driven home the bolt 72 so as to start a second driving step movement. This drive, as mentioned above, is described in greater detail and is claimed in a copending application Serial No. 112,338, now Patent No. 3,094,207.

Although we have illustrated and exemplified the invention in this particular embodiment, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that it can be applied to many other types of rotary apparatus which is indexed from station to station. It will be understood that the particular elements selected and the particularrelations of speed among the various parts will depend on the operations being performed. Thus, if it is desired to rotate the parts only while they are in the treating station, the travel of the driving belt 32 can be in a direction and at a speed such that it substantially matches the rotary travel of the carriage 14, and thus the rotation of the pulleys 34 can be slowed and/or stopped while their axes are revolving in the same relative direction as the driving belt 32. Conversely, if a more rapid rotation is desired while the carriage is being moved from station to station, then the direction of travel of the belt 32 can be opposite to the direction of rotation of the carriage.

The use of sprocket chains and V-belts are, of course, representative of various driving means known to the art. Likewise, the transmission gears 26 and 36 are representative of various available devices for angular transmission of power, and advantageously are also speed change devices, which are advantageously used to adapt the speed of rotation in the machine to various different operations for which it may be used. Although we refer to these devices 26 and 36 as transmission gears, the word gear is used in its broad sense and it is understood that this includes hydraulic, friction and electric devices and other mechanical power transmission as well as mechanical devices using intermeshing gear teeth.

In some operations it is desirable to have the manufactured part it} rotated at one station and not rotated at another, or rotated at different speeds in the diiierent stations. To this end adjustment of the speed change transmission gear 36 can be provided for by means of arcuate gear racks 8i) and 81, appropriately positioned between stations. Thus, the rotation of each of the parts holders i6 is selectively adjusted and controlled at certain treatment stations by means of the arcuate racks 8t? and 81 coacting with each of the respective adjusting wheels 82. As the carriage rotates the adjusting wheel 82 on the speed change transmission gear 36 comes into engagement with the arcuate rack 80 above the wheel, whereupon rotation of the carriage turns the wheel 82 so as to change the speed ratio or at another position, comes in contact with the rack 81 below the wheel 82, which turns this wheel in the opposite direction to efiect an opposite change in the spe-e ratio. The length of the gear rack, of course, determines the amount of the adjustment. Thus, any required speed change, and in either direction, may be provided for each of the stations.

If the racks S and 81 are positioned to engage the respective wheels 82 just after the start of each indexing movement, a smoother engagement is provided with gradual acceleration.

In this illustrative example of the invention, the controllable transmission gears 36 may be in the form of differential gear mechanisms, such as the differential gear mechanisms used in the rear axles of motor vehicles. Thus, as the input shaft 83 is turned by the driven pulley 34, the rotation of the output shaft 84 is controlled or adjusted by the amount and direction of rotation of the control Wheel 82.

The pulleys 42 are shown as being idler wheels for the purpose of maintaining tension in the respective individual driving belts 41 for the respective parts holders.

In order to protect the operating and driving mechanisms from exposure to the treating liquids, abrasives, and other treatment materials and reagents which may be used for treating the manufactured parts it), the carriage 14 includes a main cylindrical wall as extending up from the periphery of the floor plate disc 45. There is an annular top plate 83 extending out from the top of the c lindrical wall 86. The side walls and ceiling of sector chambers 13 in the carriage 14 at the respective stations AG, are defined by the radial partitions 12, by the cylindrical Wall 86 and by the top plate 88. Thus, each sec tor chamber 13 is open toward the bottom and is open toward the perimeter of the carriage 14. As shown in FIGURE 3, the shaft 49 for each part holding fixture 16 extends into each sector chamber 33 through one of the ban e seals 55 in the cylindrical wall 85, and the parts holding fixture I6 protrudes radially out into each of the sector chambers 13.

Advantageously, the floor plate disc 46 and the cylindrical wall 36 define a protected inner well extending down axially into the center of the carriage 14. Within this inner protected Well about the central column 52 are located the various individual controllable transmission gears and drive mechanism, as shown in detail in FIG- URE 3.

In this illustrative example of the invention, all of the driven pulley wheels 34 are shown as being of the same size. In certain applications where different sizes or types of manufactured parts are being treated, then the various driven pulley Wheels 34 may be diiierent size so as to provide different combinations of rotary movements in the different parts holding fixtures 16. However, to provide the most uniform engagement action between these driven pulley Wheels 34 and the drive belt 32, it is found prefer- 6 able to utilize driven wheels 3:; which are all of substantially the same size. Where difierent combinations of rotary movements are desired for the various parts holding fixtures 16, then diiferent sizes and types of transmission gear devices 36 can be utilized as desired in accordance with this specification.

By virtue of the two right angle driving gears 26 and 3d, a simple transmission is provided which makes feasible the mounting of the driving motor 261! in the exterior of the housing and permits the use of a single motor instead of crowding individual motors for each of the sectors A-G, as had been done previously.

I claim:

1. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with washing liquids, abrasive slurries and similar liquid treatments, a rotary indexing device having a fixed frame and a rotating carriage divided into a plurality of sectors for carrying parts respectively, a plurality of rotatable parts holders in said sectors, transmission gear means on the carriage and connected in driving relation to the parts holders, respectively, for rotating said parts holders, said transmission gear means having input driving wheels upstanding from the carriage at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of the carriage with the axis of each driving wheel paralleling said axis, a driving motor on top of said frame in an exposed position adjacent to but outside the path of rotation of said input wheels, an output driving connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection and motor being the sole driving means for all of said wheels and having at least a part thereof extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging with said input driving wheels, whereby to retain driving connection therewith during indexing rotation of the carriage.

2. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts, a rotary indexing device having a fixed frame and a rotating carriage divided into a plurality of sectors for carrying parts respectively, a fixed housing for said carriage with an access opening adapted for registering with said sectors in succession and treating stations in said housing adapted for treatment or" said parts successively as said sectors of the carriage come into registry therewith, a plurality of rotatable parts holders respectively in said sectors, transmission gear means on the carriage and connected in driving relation to the parts holders thereon for rotating said parts holders, said transmission gear means having input driving wheels at spaced positions abount the axis of rotation of the carriage with the axis of each driving wheel paralleling said axis of rotation, a driving motor positioned on the exterior of said housing adjacent to but outside the path followed by said input wheels during rotation of the carriage, an output drive connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection being the sole driving means for all of said wheels and having at least a part thereof extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging said input driving wheels whereby to retain driving connection therewith during indexing rotation of the carriage, and said output driving connection from the motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means including a shaft extending through said housing.

3. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with washing liquids, abrasive slurries, and similar liquid treatments having a fixed frame with a rotating turntable thereon including a barrier wall extending around the axis of the turntable and defining an inner region within said barrier wall, a plurality of walls extending outwardly from said barrier wall for dividing the perimeter of said turntable into a plurality of parts-treatment chambers at spaced positions about the perimeter of said turntable, a plurality of parts holders rotatably mounted on said turntable in said parts-treatment chambers respectively and having rotating drive shafts extending inwardly through openings in smd barrier Wall into said inner region of the turntable, transmission gear means mounted on the turntable within said inner region for protection from the liquid and connected to said drive shafts for rotating said parts holders, said transmission gear means having input driving wheels respectively at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of said turntable, a driving motor on said fixed frame, an output driving connection from said motor to said input driving wheels of said transmission gear means, said driving connection having a portion thereof extending about the axis of said turntable and engaging with said input driving wheels, and drive mechanism for rotary indexing of said turntable about said axis.

4. L1 a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid as claimed in claim 3, a rotating turntable wherein said transmission gear means mounted on the turntable within the inner region thereof includes sprockets on the inner ends of said drive shafts, a plurality of speed reducers, and a sprocket chain connecting each of said speed reducers to one of said sprockets, said input driving wheels being connected to the respective speed reducers.

5. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid such as abrasive slurries, and similar liquid treatments having a fixed frame with a rotating turntable thereon including a barrier wall extending around the axis of the turntable and defining an inner region within said barrier Wall, a plurality of walls extending outwardly from said barrier wall for dividing the perimeter of said turntable into a plurality of parts-treatment chambers at spaced positions about the perimeter of said turntable, a plurality of parts holders rotatably mounted on said turntable in said parts-treatment chambers and having rotating drive shafts extending inwardly through openings in said barrier wall into said inner region of the turntable, baffie seal means surrounding said drive shafts adjacent the openings in said barrier wall, transmission gear means mounted on the turntable within said inner region for protection from the liquid and connected to said drive shafts for rotating said parts holders, said transmission gear means having input driving wheels at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of said turntable, a driving motor on said fixed frame, an output driving connection from said motor to said input driving wheels of said transmission gear means, said driving connection having a portion thereof extending about the axis of said turntable and engaging with said input driving wheels,

and drive mechanism for rotary indexing of said turna table about said axis.

6. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid, a rotary indexing device having a fixed frame and a rotating carriage thereon with a plurality of parts ing motor on said frame, an output driving connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection having at least a part thereof extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging with said input driving wheels whereby to retain driving connection therewith during indexing rotation of the carriage, said controllable gear transmission means including control wheels connected thereto, and control means mounted on the frame for controlling the motion of said parts holders.

7. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid as claimed in claim 6, a rotary indexing device wherein said control wneels have gear teeth, and said control means including arcuate racks mounted on the machine frame and engaging the gear teeth of said control wheels.

8. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid as claimed in claim 7, a rotary indexing device including a plurality of arcuate racks mounted on the machine frame, one of said arcuate racks engaging said control wheels for rotating them relatively in one direction and another of said arcuate racks engaging said control wheels for rotating them relatively in the opposite direction.

9. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with cleaning liquid such as abrasive slurries and the like, a rotary indexing device having a fixed frame and a rotating carriage thereon with a plurality of parts holders in the carriage for carrying parts and being spaced about the axis of rotation of the carriage, controllable transmission gear means on the carriage and connected in driving relation to the parts holders, respectively, for rotating said parts holders, said controllable transmission gear means having input driving wheels at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of the carriage, a driving motor on said frame, an output driving connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection having at least a part thereof extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging with said input driving Wheels whereby to retain driving connection therewith during indexing rotation of the carriage, said controllable gear transmission means including control wheels connected thereto, and first and second control means mounted on the frame engaging said control wheels for controlling the motion of said parts holders, said first control means engaging said control wheels for rotating said control wheels in one direction and said second control means engaging said control wheels for rotating said control wheels in the opposite direction.

10. In a machine for spray treating manufactured parts with liquid, a rotary indexingdevice including a fixed frame and a rotating carriage mounted on said frame, drive mechanism for rotary indexing of said rotary carriage about its axis, the rotary carriage having a plurality of rotatable parts holders thereon, the indexing of said carriage positioning the parts in said holders respectively in a plurality of treating stations, a plurality of right angle drive reducer gears on the carriage and each connected in driving relation to a respective one of the parts holders, for rotating said parts holders, said reducer gears having input driving wheels at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of the carriage with the axis of each driving wheel paralleling the axis of rotation of the carriage and output Wheels facing towards said axis, a driving motor on said frame, an internal track driving connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection having at least a part thereof extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging with a driving Wheel on said motor and with said input driving wheels whereby to retain driving connection therewith during indexing rotaton of the carriage.

11. In a machine for treating manufactured parts with liquid, a rotary indexing device comprising a fixed frame and a rotating carriage mounted on said frame, drive mechanism for rotating indexing of said carriage about its axis, a plurality of parts holders rotatably mounted on said carriage angularly spaced about its axis, the angular spacing corresponding to the angle of indexing effected by said drive whereby the parts holders on said carriage are positioned successively in a plurality of treating stations, a plurality of reducer gears on the carriage each connected in driving relation to one of the parts holders for rotating said parts holders in substantially radial position relative to the carriage axis, having input driving wheels at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of the carriage with the axis of each driving wheel paralleling the axis of rotation of the carriage and output wheels facing toward said axis and including adjustable speed change gears provided with adjusting means on the exterior of the reducer gear, a driving motor on said frame,

an internal track driving connection from said motor to the input driving wheels of said transmission means, said driving connection having its track extending about the axis of said carriage and engaging a driving wheel on said motor and said input driving wheels of the reducer gears thereby serving as a driving connection therewith during indexing rotation of the carriage and means provided adjacent the treating stations to engage said adjusting means to efiect adjustment of the speed change by movement of the carriage between treating stations.

12. An indexing device as defined in claim 11 in which the means to effect adjustment comprises a wheel external to said change gear and an arcuate rack positioned to be engaged with said wheel upon rotation of the carriage and to cause rotation of said wheel to effect adjustment.

13. An indexing device as defined in claim 12 in which the rack is above the wheel adjacent at least one of said stations and below it at another of said stations whereby to increase at one end and decrease at another the rate of rotation of the parts holder.

14. A machine for spray treating manufactured parts with washing liquid such as abrasive slurries, and similar liquid treatments having a fixed frame with a rotating turntable mounted thereon including a barrier wall ext ing around the axis of the turntable and defining an inner Well within said barreir wall, a plurality of walls extending outwardly from said barrier wall for dividing the perimeter of said turntable into a plurality of parts-treatment chambers at spaced positions about the perimeter of said turntable, an annular top plate on said turntable extending above said chambers, said annular top plate having an opening above said inner region, a plurality of parts holders rotatably mounted on said turntable in said parts-treatment chambers spaced downwardly from said top plate, said parts holders having rotating drive shafts extending inwardly through openings in said barrier wall into said inner region of the turntable, transmission gear means mounted on the turntable within said inner region for protection from the liquid and connected to said drive shafts for rotating said parts holders, said transmission gear means extending up through said opening in said top plate and having input driving wheels positioned above the elevation of said annular top plate at spaced positions about the axis of rotation of said turntable, a driving motor on said fixed frame, an output driving connection from said motor to said input driving wheeis of said transmission gear means, said driving connection having a portion thereof extending about the axis of said turntable above the elevation of said annular top plate and engaging with said input driving wheels, and drive mechanisms for rotary indexing of said turntable about said axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4,217 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1887 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR SPRAY TREATING MANUFACTURED PARTS WITH WASHING LIQUIDS, ABRASIVE SLURRIES AND SIMILAR LIQUID TREATMENTS, A ROTARY INDEXING DEVICE HAVING A FIXED FRAME AND A ROTATING CARRIAGE DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF SECTORS FOR CARRYING PARTS RESPECTIVELY, A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE PARTS HOLDERS IN SAID SECTORS, TRANSMISSION GEAR MEANS ON THE CARRIAGE AND CONNECTED IN DRIVING RELATION TO THE PARTS HOLDERS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR ROTATING SAID PARTS HOLDERS, SAID TRANSMISSION GEAR MEANS HAVING INPUT DRIVING WHEELS UPSTANDING FROM THE CARRIAGE AT SPACED POSITIONS ABOUT THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE CARRIAGE WITH THE AXIS OF EACH DRIVING WHEEL PARALLELING SAID AXIS, A DRIVING MOTOR ON TOP OF SAID FRAME IN AN EXPOSED POSITION ADJACENT TO BUT OUTSIDE THE PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID INPUT WHEELS, AN OUTPUT DRIVING CONNECTION FROM SAID MOTOR TO THE INPUT DRIVING WHEELS OF SAID TRANSMISSION MEANS, SAID DRIVING CONNECTION AND MOTOR BEING THE SOLE DRIVING MEANS FOR ALL OF SAID WHEELS AND HAVING AT LEAST A PART THEREOF EXTENDING 